Unforgivable [Ethan]

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Braelynn wasn't close to Ethan. The pair had rarely interacted past simple greetings, even though they were in the same house. She did know he was a good guy though, and didn't deserve what had happened to him...

The girl stood outside the Hospital wing for almost half an hour, debating. She needed to talk to him. To say... something. But if Desirae found out... Just the fear of what might happen, to Ethan and herself was enough to keep Bay outside for so long. Her hands were clasped together so tightly that she was losing feeling in her fingers. With a sigh, she loosened her grip.She was losing her nerve, after coming all this way she just... couldn't. Couldn't go in there and tell him. She was such a coward. She turned to leave, but stopped, once again. Would she be able to live with herself, knowing what she did and not saying anything? That thought, that guilt was enough to get her to finally enter the Hospital Wing.

She hadn't visited him since the attack, but that was no surprise. What would he think? She cautiously approached his bed with a formal but shaky smile. "Ethan? Do you have a minute?" She politely asked, having to clasp her hands behind her back to stop herself from fretting. "It's important..."

@ethanjohnson

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Ethan had been able to go to classes and things of the like now, but he was still supposed to spend the nights in the Hospital Wing for a little longer. It was annoying, to say the least, but he understood why. Nightmares still plagued him and his wounds would reopen at the most inconvenient times. Still, he had a lot of visitors. He wasn't expecting Braelynn Rosseau to appear at his side however...

He looked up at her, raising an eyebrow in concern. "Braelynn, hey..." he hesitated for a moment. He and her hadn't really developed a relationship, mostly because her sister Desirae was always there--watching. Desi was probably Ethans main perpetrator in cruelty, but Ethan rarely fought back. Braelynn had been there for a lot of it and stayed silent. Ethan didn't expect anything more from her, though. Not with Desi there.

"Sure, what's up?" he finally said, hoping he wasn't thinking it over for too long.

@braelynn

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Braelynn's hands were shaking behind her back. What was he going to say? Think? What if he told someone what she told him? Oh, this was a terrible, terrible mistake! When Desirae found out..!

At this point, as she could do was continue, and take the necessary steps to avoid being overhead. Hands still shaking, she unclasped them and pulled out her wand. With a wave, and softly muttering the necessary spell, she sound proofed the area around his bed. There wasn't anyone else in the Hospital wing at the moment, but she wasn't taking any chances. Hiding her wand once again she looked back at him, and opened her mouth to say what she'd come here for. Nothing came out.

Quickly she closed her mouth, pursing her lips and dropping her gaze to the floor. Why couldn't she say it? Fear of what might happen if they found out? Fear of how Ethan might react? Or fear of having to face Desirae, knowing she'd betrayed her..? Betrayed... That word almost crumbled what remained of Braelynn's resolve. How could she do this?

Taking a slow deep breath, she closed her eyes, still unable to look at Ethan. That was the only way she'd be able to speak. She barely managed to whisper her admittance. "I know what happened when you were attacked... I know who did it..."

@ethanjohnson

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When Braeylnns eyes closed Ethan knew that what she had come for wasn't good. He sat up, leaning forward as she begun to speak. Once the words were out his eyes widened, "how... how?" he asked, his voice just as soft as hers. He noticed his hands were started to shake, his heart starting to pound. He licked his lips, unsure of what else to say before she answered him.

The only way she would know this would be if she was involved somehow... right? Unless, unless Desirae had something to do with it. Could he tell someone his suspicions about Desirae without breaking the vow? He wasn't sure, so it was probably best not to. But if Bay knew, if she knew about Elaine... why wasn't she telling the professors? Why wasn't she putting a stop to this? What was stopping her!?

He felt himself starting to get angry, all within the few moments before her next words...

@braelynn

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Braelynn needed Ethan to hate her. To blame her for what happened. Because maybe, just maybe, she could have stopped it. If she'd had the courage to tell someone sooner, this wouldn't have happened, right? That single word Ethan asked was like daggers, Braelynn flinching. "I..." She tried to speak, but stopped. How did you explain something like this? Slowly, she opened her eyes, her gaze raising just enough to look at him. He looked shocked, understandably, and there was the anger, slowly beginning to boil.

"I can't tell you." She finally finished. She wasn't under the Unbreakable vow like him, but it felt like it. she didn't actually know what would happen if she told the Professors what she knew. How Desirae would react at her sister's betrayal. Or worse. What if Elaine found out..? Did Elaine even know how much Desirae had told her? She was scared, terrified, actually.

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"If you can't tell me then why the hell'd you come, Bay?" he said a little too loudly before taking a deep breath, turning away from her. He clenched his fists under the blanket. There was no reason to yell at Braelynn. She was obviously having just as hard of a time as he was. He looked back up at her, sitting up a little more and revealing his hands. In a slow motion he reached out to touch her, but his hand hovered in mid air. "They got to you too, didn't they? You're trapped too then, right?" he said, his voice soft. There was only one reason why she would look so scared about having this conversation. She was going through the same thing he was, or something similar.

He knew in that moment that Desi was a part of it. If Elaine was and Bay knew about it, then all the pieces made sense. It made his ears ring, thinking about the fact that someone he'd known for years and lived in the same house with was one of the murderers. Not that he was surprised, but it still was an unnerving thought. She'd befriended Elaine almost as soon as she arrived in their fourth year. Now they were killing people together.

Great.

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Braelynn flinched again when he snapped back at her, asking why she'd come. She offered no explanation, because she had none. Maybe she came because she wanted him to know he wasn't alone. That he wasn't the only one that knew, but couldn't say anything. Or maybe she was being selfish, and came to tell herself that she wasn't alone. Either way, whether they liked it out not, the two had something in common. She move as he reached out, stopping just before touching her, and spoke. Her gaze dropped a little though as she slowly nodded.

"If I do anything to stop them..." She started, but stopped, unable to finish the sentence. She didn't need to. Ethan had been on the other end of Elaine's wrath, after all. It was odd. She knew she wasn't a pushover when it came to magic. Casting as almost second nature to Braelynn, and during her time had Hogwarts she'd managed to snag the spot of Co-captain to the Dueling club, a title that wouldn't go to just anyone. And yet she, despite all her talent was terrified to stand up to Elaine and Desirae. "I wish I could." The Ravenclaw finally added quietly.

@ethanjohnson

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Ethan let his hand fall to the bed as Bay answered him, nodding. She didn't have to finish her sentence for Ethan to know what she meant. If she tried to stop them she would most likely be in worse shape than he was, that and dead. He couldn't imagine being trapped on the inside, being a part of it and being unable to do anything to stop it. He shook his head, looking down for a moment to bite his lip. "So, what now..." he muttered, looking back up at Braelynn with a slight hint of laughter in his eyes. What was he supposed to do? The pathetic nature of their situation was incredibly pathetic, almost laughable at this point.

"Braelynn... Bay," he said, finally following through and reaching out to place his hand on Bay's shoulder. "Thank you. For coming here." He meant it too. He was still frustrated, of course, but he understood why she came. She wanted to support him and he wanted to support her. They were in this together now, whether they liked it or not.

@braelynn

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It was a pathetic situation. Braelynn was forced to cooperate because of her sisters... Ethan had been forced to take the unbreakable vow, and rendered unable to tell a single soul. In many ways, Braelynn wished she'd been placed under a similar vow. At least then she wouldn't be racked by this guilt and shame. To lie to the whole world about what she knew and her own participation... Always aware that if she could just muster the courage to speak up, this would all be over. But the cost... She couldn't risk it.

So, what now...
Bay pursed her lips tightly together, gaze dropping once more. She was thinking, trying to come up with some answer to his remark. They were both Ravenclaws, members of the house known for intelligence and wit. If they couldn't come up with an answer, who could? "There has to be something..." She finally stated, her gaze raising once more to meet his. She didn't move as he put a hand on her shoulder, though part of her felt she didn't deserve it.

"Ethan... if we don't do something, who will?" she finally asked, seriously.

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Of course she couldn’t think of anything for them to do. What was there? They had no upper hand. Ethan certainly didn’t and Bay’s situation was almost worse. As she finally asked him the vital question, if they didn’t do something then who would, Ethan frowned. He sighed, shaking his head slightly before taking his hand back. ”That’s what I’ve been thinking. I’m just lying here, living, and I may as well just... I should do something about this. But the consequences... they’re really... high...” yeah like, he’d be completely dead. And in Bay’s case, she’d probably be dead too. There was a dark hole in Ethans heart now. A place where he knew that more people would die if he didn’t do something. This was on him, wasn’t it? He was one of the few people who knew the truth and could save other. ”I... I don’t know.”

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Braelynn let out a sigh, and collapsed into the chair by the bed. That was their dilemna. They were both backed into a corner. He talked, he died for sure. The vow wouldn't let him walk away with his life. If she talked, she was most likely dead (or worse). But... There was still a chance. Or rather, her chance was better then his. She stared at the ground, deep in thought, trying to come up with a solution that would work for everyone. If one existed. The longer she thought though, the dimmer it looked.

When he finally said he didn't know, she knew what they could do. She had an answer. But... Dare she? Could she even get the sentence out? She looked up at him, taking in the injuries that hadn't quite healed yet. So much pain... "Ethan..." She started, but stopped, her expression unnaturally still as she tried to finish. "You..." Her voice caught now, tightening in refusal in utter what she was thinking. She let out a heavy sigh, as if to build up her courage. "They can't make you talk, but they can make me." She met his gaze with a new found determination.

"Tell them I know."

((As discussed... This happens before Desi threatened Zander. So she doesn't have any motivation to be 'loyal' to the baddies. She'll corner him after her conversation with Desi to beg him to stay quiet, heh.))
@ethanjohnson

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"Tell... tell Abby?" he said, his jaw dropping slightly. Was Braeylnn really offering to give up whatever she had to give up to help? To tell the truth? Suddenly, with the opportunity in front of him, Ethan shook his head. "No. No, there has to be a better way. I have to protect you," he also had a new found determination. He wasn't going to let Bay suffer because of her family and her ties to Elaine. No, he was going to figure something out. There had to be a way to get Elaine to reveal herself.

"I'll... we should think about this, okay? There's no reason to get yourself hurt. We can figure... something out." His confidence was waning. But he knew that he was right. There was no reason to put anyone else in danger, at least not on purpose. Not when he could do something about it. Which was yet another reason why he should just give her away... but no, they'd find a solution!

(lol we can continue this if you want to end it here I dunno XD @braelynn)

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Had Braelynn expected him to agree? Eh, not really. He was a good person, and he knew the risk. If he told anyone that she knew what was going on, Elaine and Desirae would find out. He knew what Elaine was capable of. But he was under the unbreakable vow. If he told anyone his death was assured. The vow wouldn't let him live. She at least stood a chance. And if she really didn't? Well, at least she had fewer loved ones then Ethan.

Braelynn didn't speak at first, just let him get his protests out. When he finally finished, she took a step towards the window by his bed, gazing longingly out it. "Ethan, my fate is already decided. I don't want anyone else to get hurt, but they will. And soon, they'll try to make me help them." She knew it was coming, and she was dreading the day. "The guilt of just knowing what is going on is already suffocating me. I can't do it, whatever it is they'll demand. How do you think they'd react?" They couldn't make her cooperate. In her heart, Braelynn knew that Desirae was aware of her being close to her breaking point. And she didn't have anything to force her cooperation.

"Please, Ethan. Tell them before they find a way to make me help them." She finally looked at Ethan, her eyes pleading. Before he could protest any more, she pulled out her wand. With a swish, she dispelled the protective charm she'd placed around them. He wouldn't be able to respond now, he'd be overheard... With only a nod, she left as quickly as she'd come.

@ethanjohnson
(Now le end